Gasteruption jaculator
This record describes Gasteruption jaculator (species). Recorded family: Gasteruptiidae. Recorded order: Hymenoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Length 10 to 18 mm. As with all species in this family, the abdomen is joined to the top of the thorax, in side view. The head and thorax are black. The abdomen which is broader at the posterior end is black with a broad orange band. A striking feature of the Gasteruption jaculator is the upright position of the abdomen in flight. In resting position, the abdomen is pulled in a slight downward or upward curve. The wings are then folded along its length. The femurs of Gasteruption jaculator are thick at the end like clubs. Ovipositor sheath is 1.0-1.2 x as long as the body and 1.5-1.7 x as long as the abdomen. There are several very similar Gasteruption species Gardens and meadows where it can be seen visiting various flowers, or hovering around the nests of solitary bees and wasps. The female will visit the nests of various solitary bees or wasps, and will push her ovipositor into the nest, depositing her own eggs on or near to the eggs of the host, on hatching they will feed on the grubs of the host as well as on stored food. Fairly widespread in England but less well recorded elsewhere in Britain.
Identification notes
- online help
Wikipedia reference for Gasteruption jaculator: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasteruption_jaculator.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Hymenoptera
- Family
- Gasteruptiidae
- Genus
- Gasteruption
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Gardens and meadows where it can be seen visiting various flowers, or hovering around the nests of solitary bees and wasps.
Seasonal Activity
May to September
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The female will visit the nests of various solitary bees or wasps, and will push her ovipositor into the nest, depositing her own eggs on or near to the eggs of the host, on hatching they will feed on the grubs of the host as well as on stored food.
Additional species information
Recorded status
Fairly widespread in England but less well recorded elsewhere in Britain.
About Flies: the wider group
Order-level background for Hymenoptera, the group containing Gasteruption jaculator. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Hymenoptera includes over 150,000 described species of ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies. Earth harbors approximately 20 quadrillion (20×10^15) ants, with a combined biomass of ~12 megatons of dry carbon - exceeding the combined biomass of all wild birds and mammals (PNAS, 2022).
Ecological role of the group
About 35% of the world's food crops depend on animal pollinators. The chocolate industry, valued at over $100 billion, depends on pollinating flies and midges. Ants are the dominant soil engineers in most terrestrial ecosystems, turning more soil than earthworms in many habitats.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Pollinators contribute $235-577 billion worth of annual global food production (FAO). In the U.S., bee pollination alone benefits crops valued at $18 billion annually, and honey bees are responsible for $5.4 billion in agricultural productivity. Between April 2023-2024, 55.1% of managed honey bee colonies were lost. The U.S. bee population dropped from 5 million to 2.5 million.
Recorded sources for this group: FAO, USDA, EPA, PNAS (2022), US Fish & Wildlife Service. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Gasteruption jaculator (3)
Frequently Asked Questions About Gasteruption jaculator
What is Gasteruption jaculator?
Gasteruption jaculator is a species in the family Gasteruptiidae, within the order Hymenoptera.
How big is Gasteruption jaculator?
10 to 18 mm. As with all species in this family, the abdomen is joined to the top of the thorax, in side view. The head and thorax are black. The abdomen which is broader at the posterior end is black with a broad orange band. A striking feature of the
How do you identify Gasteruption jaculator?
- online help
Where is Gasteruption jaculator found?
Habitat: Gardens and meadows where it can be seen visiting various flowers, or hovering around the nests of solitary bees and wasps.
When is Gasteruption jaculator active?
Gasteruption jaculator: seasonal activity - May to September.
What is the life cycle of a Gasteruption jaculator?
The female will visit the nests of various solitary bees or wasps, and will push her ovipositor into the nest, depositing her own eggs on or near to the eggs of the host, on hatching they will feed on the grubs of the host as well as on stored food.